Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-09-15
.-E-[[<

stout like her husband. and bealned so
genially upon Tad. through a pair OF
brass-bowed spcctacles, a moment or
two later, that his heart warmed
toward her at once.
"Our house was funny little one
story building with what the Bixport
people call q "gambril roof" making
II seem TO an imaginative person as
though II were Struggling its shoulders
with its hands in its pockets. The
windows were small. with tiny pancs
Of glass, and the front door, painted a
lively pea-green, had wonderfully
bright brass knocker in the center Of
the upper panel. There was a weather.
beaten barn AT the rear, from whose
open doors issued nocks Of noisy hens,
while number Of doves "courooed''
on the roofs in the sunshine; the little
door-yard was oyergrown with sy1iuga
and lilac bushes. and the two or three
dilapidatcd flowcr-bcds were bOrdcred
with large clam-shells.
Tad had a good chance 10 notice MI
this, because the Flaggs were some lit
tie time in getting into the house. as at
every few steps Mrs. Flagg had to stop
ard speak of some bit Of news. paren-
thcsizihg the same by giving Polly a
hug.
Polly had certain Bostonian expert
enccs to narratc-pariicularly the one
where Tad and Bounce were prominent,
and even Captain Flagg himself tarricd
on the doorstep a moment. 20 illus
trate, by pcnciled diagram on the
threshold, the whereabouts OF the
"Mary j." when It came on 10 blow
heavy from the west'arl the first night
ont.
But finally they all got into the din
ing-room, where Tel seated himself in
a very uncompromising chair made To
fit into a corner, and sitting on the cv-
trcme verge thereof. with his cap held
in both hands resting on his knees.
glanced intcrestcdly about him. while
the tongues Of the others wagged un-
haggingly-if may be allowed the ex-
precision.
He soon made mp his mind that the
inside Of the little house was n delight
fully quaint as Is exterior. In tho first
place, an oak wainscoting ran around
the walls nearly as high ms Tads shoul-
der. All the furniture was black with
age. and Of the severest hair-cloth and
mahogany order. for, like the house. II
had been In being considerably over n
century. In the corner stood a tall,
pale-faced clock. that had monotonOus-
~ tieked away hundred and ten Yeas,
second by second. On the mantle we're
some se6-shells, pair Of china vases,
and small wooden ship. Whitfield ous
by Ephrtim X Small. And beneath the
mantle was large open fireplace,
where the fire itself lcapcd up inccs-
sanity and rubbed is glowing hands
together, with warm smiles that were
reflected In the polished faces Of the
brass-headed andirons. Just such
fire as one likes 10 sit in front Of when
II Is showing and slecting and blowing
oui-of-doors, and listen to tales Of ship
wrecks and storms at sea.
The talk went on infcrruptedly till |
dinnei-time, and then came a meal. 10
which Tad did more than ample justice. |
He said afterward that he was ashamed |
TO have eaten 30 much. But when a |
hungry growing boy is set down 70 cold
beef. and hot biscuit. and fresh butter,
and new gingerbread. with pie and
ioughA0ts besides, what else can be
sxpoctedf
i'sr a,nner Polly took TAD out o